Students find that as funds are cut, so are their options

Concerns over the impact of increasing funding pressures have long been voiced by colleges, but new evidence suggests that squeezed budgets are preventing students from switching or ditching A-level courses.

A survey of more than half of the country’s sixth-form colleges has identified a trend towards offering three A levels instead of four. And the majority of colleges say that they will either insist that all students who enrol in September continue with their original choice of subjects or take a “safety net” alternative, rather than allowing them to change A-level course or continue with ...

What the colleges say

Will you allow a student starting three A levels to drop one of them in term one?

55% We will insist that they carry on with all three

6% We will allow them to carry on with just two

27% We will offer a 'safety net' course for those who drop an A level

13% Not applicable: all students start with four A levels

Standard 16-19 study programmes consist of:

Three subjects in both years 12% (2016), 19% (2017)

Four subjects in year one, three subjects in year two 20% (2016), 13% (2017)

Four subjects for most able, three subjects as standard 59% (2016), 61% (2017)

Other 8% (2016), 7% (2017)

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